Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-27
abe was laying in venics under her own

name.
She shook her head. CAS- your brothers
widow / am known here. As Countess Naro-
ma / am known here. 1 want to be known
this time to strangers in Venice; l am
travelling under q common English name"
She hesitated, and stood still. What has
come to mePn she muttered to herself.
Some things / remember and some i for
get. / forgot Danieli's-and now / forgot
my English name"
She drew him hurriedly into the hall of
the hotel, on the wall of which hung a list
of visitors names. Running her finger
| slowly down th list, she pointed to the
English name she had assumed-"Mrs.
James"
Remember that when You call to-mor-
row." she said. "My head is heavy.
Good night"
Fsancis went back to his own hotel,
wondering what the events Of the next
day would bring forth. A new turn in
affairs had taken place in his absence. AS
he crossed the hall he was requested by one
of the servants to walk into the private
office. The manager was waiting there
with a gravely pre-occupied manner, as If
he had something serious to say. He
regretted to hear that Mr.. Francis West
wick had, like other members of the
family, discovered mysterious sources
OF discomfort in the new hotel. He had
been informed in strict confidence of Mr..
| Westwick's extraordinary objection to the
atmosphere of the bedroom upstairs. With
out presuming to discuss the matter, he
must beg to be excused from reserving the
xoo,n fOr NJ WaSfutaty altar vuhat had |
happened.
Francis answered sharply, a little rufied
by the tone in which the manager had
spoken to him. 81 might, very possibly,
have declined to sleep in the room if you
had reserved it." be said. "Do you wish
me to leave the hottl?"
The manager saw the error that lie had
committed and fastened to repairit it. Ger
tainly not, sir! We will do our best to make
you comfortable while you stay with US.
l beg your pardon if / have said anything
to offend you. The reputation of III estab-
lishment like this is a matter of very seri-
Gus Importance. May 1 hope that you
will do us the great favor to say nothing
about what has happened up stairs? The
two French gentlemen have kindly prom
ised to keep it a secret"
This apology left Francis no polite alter
native but to grant the managers request.
''There is an end TO the countess wild
scheme" he thought to himself, as he re-
tired for the night. $50 much the better
for the countess"
He rose late the next morning. Inquir-
ing for his Partisan friends, he was III
formed that both the French gentlemen
had left for Milan. AS he crossed the hall
on his way to the restaurant he noticed
the head porter chalking the numbers of
the rooms onsOme articles ofluggage which
were waiting to go up stairs. One trunk
attracted his attention by the extraordi-
nary number Of old travelling left on it.
The porter WIS marking it at the moment
and the number was 'l3A." Francis
instantly looked at the card fastened on
the lid. 1t bore the common English
name, MRS. James!" He at once inquired
about the lady. She had arrived early
that morning, and she was then in the
reading room. Looking into the room he
discovered a lady in it alone. Advancing
q little nearer ne found himself face to face
with the countess.
She was seated in a dark corner with
her head down and her rms crossed over
bosom. YES" she said, in a tone o.
weary impatience, before Francis could
speak to her, Il thought it best not to wait
for you'll determined 10 get here before
anybody else could take the ROOM"
Have you taken it for long?" Francis
asked.
"You told me Miss Lockwood would be
here in a weeks time. l have taken it
tor a week"
"What has Miss lockwood to do with
it?"
"She has everything to do with it-she
must sleep in the room. | shall give the
room up to her when she comes here"
Francis began to understand the super
stitious purpose that she had in view.
Are you, an educated woman. really of
the same opinion as my sisters maiG?" he
exclaimed. Assuming your absurd su-
perstition to be q serious thing, you are
taking the wrong means to prove il true.
If | and my brother and sister nave seen
nothing, how should Agnes Lockwood dis
cover what was not revealed to US? She is
only d~istantly related to the Montbarrys-
she is only our cousin"
"She was nearer to the heart of the
Montbarry who is dead than any of you"
the countess answered sternly. ITO the
last day Of his life my miserable husband
repented his desertion of her. She will see
what none of you have seen-she shall
have the room"
Francis listened, utterly ct q loss to ac-
count for the motives that animated her.
II don't see what interest you have in try
ing this extraordinary experiment" he
said.
ut is my interest not to try it 1t is my
interest 20 fly from Venice and never set
eyes on Agnes Lockwood or any of your
family again ~
"What prevents you from doing that?"
She started to her feet and looked at him
wildly. 81 know no more what prevents
me thar you do ~ she burst ont. "Some
will that is stronger than niue drives me
on to my destruction in spite of my own
selfm She suddenly sat down again and
waved her hand for him to do. Leave
me-" she said. Leave me- TO my
thoughts"
Francis left her, firmly persuaded by
this time that she was out of her senses.
For the rest of the day be saw nothing of
her. The night, so far he knew, passed
quietly. The next morning he break
tasted early, determined to wait in the
restaurant for the appearance Of the coun-
tess. She came in and ordered her break
fast quietly, looking dull, worn and self
absorbed, as she had looked when he last
saw her. He FASTENED to her table and
asked if anything had happened in the
night.
Nothing" she answered.
"YOu have rested as we'll as usual?"
Quite as well as usual. Have you had
any letters this morning? Have you heard
when she is comingF
81 have had no letters. Are you really
going to stay here? Has your experience
Of last night altered the opinion which you
expressed to me yesterday"
Not in the least"
The momentary CLEAN > of animation
which had crossed her face when she ques-
toned him about Agnes died out of it
again when he answered her. She looked,
she spoke, she eat her breakfast with q
broken resignation, like a woman who
had done with hopes, done with interest,
llama nth avarvfb;n0 Int tha ,naohar;oal